Spain recorded a third Eurobasket Women gold medal after they cruised past France 71-55 in the final in Prague, on Sunday.
Sancho Lyttle posted 19 points, eight rebounds and Alba Torrens added 18 as Spain blew the final open in the second quarter leaving France helpless.
Spain led 21-18 after the first period and an 11-2 run spanning four minutes extended their cushion to 32-20 and France were never able to mount any kind of comeback from there.
France were able to narrow the gap to single digits, but the Spanish were always in control, and they gave Laia Palau the perfect send off as the veteran guard called time on a glittering international career.
France’s Celine Dumerc also called it quits following the final and even though she didn’t get the result that she wanted, the guard led the French with 15 points.
It isn’t much of a consolation though for the outgoing Dumerc and France, as they drop their third straight Eurobasket Women final since hosting the event in 2013.
BELGIUM SCOOP BRONZE
Belgium captured the bronze medal after hammering Greece 78-45 earlier in the day.
The Belgian Cats took a double-digit lead, midway through the second quarter and pulled clear for good in the second half as they held Greece to just 16 points in the third and fourth periods to secure an easy win.
Kim Mestdagh led Belgium with 18 points.
All-Tournament team: Alba Torrens (Spain), Emma Meesseman (Belgium), Evanthia Maltsi (Greece), Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy) and Endene Miyem (France).
